Article Directory :: Writing & Speaking Articles

The Essential Media Kit for the Nonfiction Author

Copyright © 2009 Gail Richards

Subscribe to Gail Richards's RSS feed using any feed reader!

Republish: EasyPublish
Published: 16Sep2007
Word count: 779
Viewed: 222 time(s)
Bookmark this article using any bookmark manager!
Get Free Content For Your Site

One of the most vital items an author must have in hardcopy and online is a media kit. Keep it in PDF format, and you will have everything you need in one place.

You are creating something that contains all the information that a media representative will need when preparing an interview or writing a story. If there is a news story that is relevant to your book, a reporter will have no time to waste in getting the information he or she needs. And if you and your book are ready, you will get the interview.

A full media kit will include at least:

• A Table of Contents for the media kit itself
• Fact sheet on book including the title, author, publication date, ISBN, number of pages, retail availability, testimonials
• Book cover photo (full scale, color, print-ready, 300 DPI)
• Author photo(s)
• An author bio (full version demonstrating why you are an expert on this subject)
• Reviews, testimonials or endorsements
• Press release(s) – you can continue to add to these
• At least ten interview questions the author is prepared to answer (with the answers) that highlight your core messages
• Book excerpt from the introduction or any piece that shows the impact of the work
• Clippings from previous media interviews/articles

Plan to make this media kit available before publication. The media won't wait until you've had a chance to put this together, so if it isn't completed beforehand, they will go to the next story.

If you get frequent requests from the magazines, in particular, you'll want to have some hard copies prepared and ready to go. Hard copies usually are sent in a colored folder with a printed label of the front cover on the front cover of the media kit. You will want to have a template of a personalized letter ready to go out with the media kit.

Author Bio

In the bio for your media kit, you want to clearly state something about your background and your accomplishments that is relevant for this book and its readers (about 100 to 500 words).

There are two common mistakes in writing an author bio for a Web site or a media kit. The first is saying too much, and the second is saying too little.

Press Releases

An author should continually think about how her book relates to the news of the day, and she should release her own news stories accordingly. A press release should be short-a page or two at most, with a provocative headline that grabs the reader's attention. Enticing statistics in the opening of a press release immediately communicate the magnitude of the problem or challenge the topics your book addresses. Writing should be short, pithy, and tight. Always include a brief author bio and all the relevant book information and ordering information.

Interview Questions and Answers

It is very helpful to reporters and interviewers when you help them ask the right questions. Most of the time you will be doing an interview with someone who has not had time to read your book. Professionals know this and do everything they can to help the interviewer look good and do a good job of highlighting what is important in your book.

It all comes back to your core messages. Think of what questions you'd like an interviewer to ask you so you could answer them by giving your core messages, and when there is time, examples of each.

When you write interview questions, write the most important ones first. It is likely that there will be time for at least two to three questions in any interview, so make the first three questions in your list the ones you absolutely want to be asked because they give the most important pieces of information that will make your audience anxious to hear more and buy your book.

Great interview questions are the ones that help the interviewer get right to the controversial part of your book. What are you telling your reader that is counter to what they might have heard before or contrary to conventional thinking.

Make sure and have examples or stories to illustrate each controversial message point. If there is a great story behind why you wrote the book, have your interview questions bring that out as well.

Interviewers like to ask for key points, or five tips, or three strategies, so give them questions that allow you to answer with a list of items. These have great take-away value for listeners or readers of the interview.

Create a compelling media kit and you will get more and better interview opportunities.

Gail Richards is founder of http://www.AuthorSmart.com a dynamic website connecting aspiring authors with the classes, audio library, tools, information and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions at each step in the nonfiction book publishing journey. Jan King is the founder of http://www.eWomenPublishingNetwork.com a membership organization devoted to supporting and coaching women who become successfully published nonfiction authors.

Bookmark this article using any bookmark manager! Subscribe to Gail Richards's RSS feed using any feed reader!

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here

More articles by Gail Richards

Free Report!
Ten Essential Secrets Of Article Marketing ... Grab Your Free
Copy
Now:




We respect your privacy.


Need Content?
Regular Top Quality Content for your Blog, Ezine or Website ...
Delivered Direct,
For Free!

Click For Details



Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Business - General
Computers & Technology
Finance & Investment
Food & Drink
Health & Fitness
Home & Family
Internet Marketing/Online Business
Legal
Pets & Animals
Politics & Government
Reference & Education
Religion & Faith
Self-Improvement/Motivation
Social
Sports & Recreation
Travel & Leisure
Writing & Speaking

More writing and speaking articles:

  • How To Break Into Magazine Writing (Jennifer Carsen)
    This article explains three tips for breaking into magazine writing.

  • 5 Tips to Becoming an Effective Communicator (Kellie D'Andrea)
    Effective communication is one of the most powerful skills an entrepreneur can master to guarantee success. Business is based upon human connections whether it is in leading your staff and advisory team, marketing your brand, selling your products or working with business partners. Communication is an essential part of business.

  • Write A Book in Only 10 Steps—Now (Dr Alicejane Lippner)
    Yes, you can write a book in 30 days or less. Follow the 10 how-to steps if you want to become a book author now. Anyone can write a non-fiction book. Just carry out these quick, easy steps, even if you're time-challenged or writing-challenged. You, too, can write a book that builds business, makes more money.

  • Speak With Confidence In Public Speaking (Edward Hope)
    To speak with confidence in public speaking is difficult for many people. There are 3 key activities that help overcome public speaking anxiety and develop confidence in public speaking.

  • Learn Spanish Language Online (Christine Marie Paguntalan)
    The Spanish language is increasingly gaining importance in America, and being able to speak and write in Spanish, is one of the most helpful skills Americans can include in their resumes, as well as in their daily lives. One of the best ways to acquire this valuable ability, is to learn Spanish language online

  • If You Want to Learn Hindu You Need to Learn Hindi (Cynthia Maxwell)
    If you want to learn the Hindu language you actually need to learn Hindi. Hindu is not a language but Hindi is. Hindi is the official language of India and is the fourth largest language by population in the world!

  • How to write books for toddlers - 5 Tips to Succeed as a children's writier! (Lisa Brunel)
    In this article you will find success tips to write books for toddlers and young children. You'll understand what needs to be included and how to write specifically for your target age group.

We Automatically Distribute Articles
To Thousands Of Publishers And Web Sites:

Submit Article
All content is viewed and used by you at your own risk and we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of any of the information. The views expressed are those of the individual contributing authors and not necessarily those of this web site, or its owner, Takanomi Limited.
 
Copyright © 2009 Takanomi Ltd. Company no. 5629683. All rights reserved. | Privacy | Legal | Contact Information